This is very cool of someone to do…
Friends and family of popular American Idol contestant Danny Gokey are getting help from Leesa Bellesi, founder of American Idol Ministry, based in Lake Forest.
Leesa launched aiministryresource.com at the start of season 7 to offer transportation, lodging and spiritual support to the families of American Idol finalists.
A self-professed American Idol fanatic (she voted 1,200 times for Katharine McPhee on the night of the 2006 finale and hosts weekly Idol watching parties), Leesa started the ministry after befriending Chris Sligh in season 6, giving his wife a place to live during the competition.
In Season 7, the parents of Syesha Mercado stayed at Leesa and pastor Denny Bellesi’s Lake Forest home during the final weeks of the show while Jason’s Castro’s parents stayed at the couple’s Laguna Beach mobile home.
Last week Leesa called Faith Builders, the Milwaukee church where Danny is a praise and worship leader. Danny’s wife died of heart surgery complications just weeks before he auditioned for the show. Her parents have passed along to Leesa that they hope to come out in a few weeks to see their son-in-law perform and want to take her up on her offer of help.
Leesa is also helping Danny’s friend and fellow former Idol contestant Jamar Rogers, who went to Hollywood but didn’t make the top 36 cut.
danny and jamar
Jamar has decided to stay in Los Angeles to support his friend, serving and tending bar at PF Changs (and working with axed Idol contestant Frankie Jordan on Frank Rogers must live). Last weekend, Leesa flew Jamar back to Milwaukee to celebrate his 27th birthday with his mom Danielle.
“I couldn’t stop crying,” Danielle says of her phone call from Leesa. “What a ministry. What a ministry. I am speechless.”
Leesa has started a blog to keep fans of the ministry updated.
